There’s not many folks expecting Arkansas to stay within shouting distance of Alabama on Saturday night.
Even the hardest of the hardcore think this could be a huge blowout.
There’s been more conversation about Bret Bielema’s buyout than how close the Razorbacks can keep it against the No. 1 Crimson Tide.
While it would be nice to give some glowing optimism about the Hogs’ history of success against No. 1-ranked teams, well, there’s not a lot.
Arkansas vs. No. 1
1957 – Texas A&M, 7, Arkansas 6 (Fayetteville)
1961 – Alabama 10, Arkansas 3 (Sugar Bowl, New Orleans)
1962 – Texas 7, Arkansas 3 (Austin, Texas)
1963 – Texas 17, Arkansas 13 (Little Rock)
1964 – Arkansas 14, Texas 13 (Austin, Texas)
1965 – Arkansas 27, Texas 24 (Fayetteville)
1969 – Texas 15, Arkansas 14 (Fayetteville)
1970 – Texas 42, Arkansas 7 (Austin, Texas)
1973 – USC 17, Arkansas 0 (Los Angeles)
1981 – Arkansas 42, Texas 11 (Fayetteville)
1996 – Florida 42, Arkansas 7 (Fayetteville)
1997 – Florida 56, Arkansas 7 (Gainesville, Fla.)
1998 – Tennessee 28, Arkansas 24 (Knoxville, Tenn.)
2005 – USC 70, Arkansas 17 (Los Angeles)
2007 – Arkansas 50, LSU 48 in 3 OT (Baton Rouge, La.)
2009 – Florida 23, Arkansas 20 (Gainesville, Fla.)
2010 – Alabama 24, Arkansas 20 (Fayetteville)
2011 – LSU 41, Arkansas 17 (Baton Rouge, La.)
2012 – Alabama 52, Arkansas 0 (Fayetteville)
2013 – Alabama 52, Arkansas 0 (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
2014 – Mississippi State 17, Arkansas 10 (Starkville, Miss.)
2016 – Alabama 49, Arkansas 30 (Fayetteville)
That’s a record of 4-18 overall, 1-8 over the last decade. The last Hogs coach to beat a No. 1 team was Houston Nutt in that three-overtime game against LSU in his final game.
But, realistically, the only hope for the Hogs is if the Crimson Tide totally collapses and suffers some injuries like Clemson had against Syracuse on Friday night.
That could happen, but we’ll know in less than 30 minutes of real-time watching if that’s a possibility. That’s about the longest time the first quarter should take.
If Arkansas can’t get first downs, they’ll be in trouble. They HAVE to keep the Tide’s offense off the field because nobody knows if the Razorbacks’ defense can come close to stopping ANY of their running backs.
You won’t get a score prediction here. The guess is it’ll be whatever the Hogs can hold Alabama’s backups to scoring.
And, remember, don’t blame the Tide if Arkansas doesn’t try to stop the backups.
BYU at Mississippi State, 11 a.m, SEC Network
This is the return game from last season when the Bulldogs went to Utah and lost, 28-21, in two overtimes, but it did give them some momentum as they went on to win three of their last six games and got to a bowl game with just five wins. They should win this one. Mississippi State 35, BYU 10
South Carolina at Tennessee, 11 a.m., ESPN
Will Muschamp has never lost to the Vols as a head coach. You read that correctly. He’s 5-0 and may move a coach to the No. 1 spot on the Coaches Hot Seat rankings if he thumps the Vols and Butch Jones (who is actually catching more heat than Bielema right now). Bye Butch. South Carolina 28, Tennessee 14
Auburn at LSU, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Well, we had LSU dead and buried, then they went to Gainesville and beat Florida. Auburn has an offense. Florida doesn’t. Not playing at night helps Auburn and Gus Malzahn keeps pace, although Clemson losing doesn’t help his CFP rating any. Auburn 28, LSU 14
Vanderbilt at Ole Miss, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network
This series favors the underdog. Usually the Commodores have played the role of spoiler, but this time the Rebels are the team nobody is expecting much from … which means they actually have a chance. It’s crazy, but so is this series. Ole Miss 28, Vanderbilt 24
Texas A&M at Florida, 6 p.m., ESPN2
The Gators are struggling and Jim McElwain may launch himself into the hot seat with a loss. Two straight losses at home will not sit well with a fan base that isn’t bothered by a buyout and expects wins. Kevin Sumlin is close to winning his way off the hot seat in College Station. Texas A&M 31, Florida 14
Missouri at Georgia, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network
This game will be over early. It’s a shame colleges don’t have mercy rules like the high schools do because this one should start under one. Georgia wins BIG
